Numerical controller

ABSTRACT

A numerical controller is configured to perform machining in accordance with a machine control program, establish a connection to a connecting destination node written in network connection information, and activate a processing program for accessing information relating to machining located at the connecting destination node. The numerical controller treats the machine control program and the network connection information as a pair.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to Japanese Patent ApplicationNumber 2018-144169 filed Jul. 31, 2018, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a numerical controller, andparticularly to a numerical controller that has the function ofanalyzing network connection information contained in a machiningprogram and establishing a connection to a network address.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, it has been complicated work to handle files on anetwork, such as files (hereinafter referred to as a related file) of amanual, CAD data, and the like that are used in relation to machiningand referenced by an operator of the numerical controller as needed. Tohandle a related file, an operator has needed to activate software forperforming file handling and designate the address on the network atwhich the related file is located using the software.

FIG. 1 is a diagram that illustrates processing necessary for browsingrelated files in a prior art technique.

A numerical controller (network address is 192.168.0.100) that anoperator operates and PC1 (192.168.0.2), PC2 (192.168.0.3), and PC3(192.168.0.4) that store various kinds of files are located on the samenetwork. When an operator wishes to browse a file, the operatoractivates software having file browsing function, such as documentbrowsing software, tool information management software, CAD drawingreference software, or machining information collecting software, on thenumerical controller. The operator then designates the address of anetwork node (PC1, PC2, or PC3) at which the file to be is located andthe file name with respect to the activated software. Then, the softwareaccesses the designated network address, and acquires and displays thedesired file. Thus, in the prior art technique, an operator needs toexplicitly designate the location of a file to be browsed each time.

A prior art technique relating to a file call described in JapanesePatent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-204410 provides a numericalcontroller that can call a second program using an instruction commandin a first program. However, this technique described in Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. 2008-204410 is a technique that calls anothercontrol program (machine control program containing parameters, tooldata, and the like) from the inside of an NC program, and cannot meetdemands to allow an operator to easily call related files scattered on anetwork when the operator needs the related files.

Specifically, in the prior art technique, in the case where a file on anetwork is called, an operator of a numerical controller needs to inputand set a correct network address at which a file or data are located.For example, in the case where two or more related files are located ondifferent network nodes, the operator needs to make settings for eachrelated file. This work takes time and labor.

Moreover, an NC program and related files originally have closecorrespondence relationships. Conventionally, these correspondencerelationships have been manually managed by an operator. For example, anNC program may have related files of a machining instruction, CAD dataon a product drawing, and the like corresponding to the NC program.Whether the related files can be browsed by understanding thecorrespondence relationships between the NC program and the relatedfiles is up to the operator. Accordingly, there have been problems suchas difficulty in accurately conveying the intention of the designer toan operator.

Moreover, every time the addresses of network nodes at which files arelocated are changed or added, settings on the referenced nodes needs tobe changed on a numerical controller that has referenced these files.This work takes time and labor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to solve the above-describedproblems, and an object of the present invention is to provide anumerical controller that has the function of analyzing networkconnection information contained in a machining program and establishinga connection to a network address.

A numerical controller according to one embodiment of the presentinvention includes: a machine control program execution section forperforming machining in accordance with a machine control program; anetwork connection section for establishing a connection to a connectingdestination node written in network connection information; and aprocessing program designation section for activating a processingprogram for accessing information relating to the machining located atthe connecting destination node. The machine control program and thenetwork connection information are treated as a pair.

The numerical controller may further include an NC program separationsection for analyzing an NC program containing the machine controlprogram and the network connection information and for separating the NCprogram into the machine control program and the network connectioninformation.

The machine control program may be described, as property information,in an NC program file in which the machine control program is described,and the numerical controller may further include an NC programseparation section for analyzing the NC program file and for separatingthe NC program file into the machine control program and the networkconnection information.

According to the present invention, a numerical controller that has thefunction of analyzing network connection information contained in amachining program and establishing a connection to a network address canbe provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a prior art technique and problems.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardwareconfiguration of a numerical controller.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functionalconfiguration of an information processing system including a numericalcontroller.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating one example of an NC program.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the numericalcontroller.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating one modified example of the numericalcontroller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram schematically illustratingprincipal portions of a numerical controller 1.

The numerical controller 1 is a device that controls industrialmachinery including a machine tool. The numerical controller 1 includesa CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a non-volatile memory 14, a bus 10, anaxis control circuit 16, a servo amplifier 17, an interface 181, aninterface 182, and an interface 183. The numerical controller 1 isconnected to a servo motor 50, an input/output device 60, nodes 2, andan NC program creator 3.

The CPU 11 is a processor that wholly controls the numerical controller1. The CPU 11 retrieves a system program stored in the ROM 12 throughthe bus 10 and controls the entire numerical controller 1 in accordancewith the system program.

The ROM 12 has system programs that have been stored in advance toexecute, for example, various kinds of control of the industrialmachinery. The RAM 13 temporarily stores temporary calculation data ordisplay data, data and programs inputted by an operator through theinput/output device 60, data received from the nodes 2, and the like.

The non-volatile memory 14 maintains the state of memory using, forexample, a battery (not shown) for memory backup even when the power ofthe numerical controller 1 is shut off. The non-volatile memory 14stores data and programs inputted from the input/output device 60, datareceived from the nodes 2, and the like. The programs and data stored inthe non-volatile memory 14 may be loaded into the RAM 13 at the time ofexecution or use.

The axis control circuit 16 controls an operating axis of the industrialmachinery. The axis control circuit 16 receives a commanded amount oftravel for the axis outputted from the CPU 11, and outputs a motioncommand for the operating axis to the servo amplifier 17.

The servo amplifier 17 receives the motion command for the axisoutputted from the axis control circuit 16 and drives the servo motor50. The servo motor 50 is driven by the servo amplifier 17 to move theoperating axis of the industrial machinery. The servo motor 50 typicallyhas a built-in position and speed detector. The position and speeddetector outputs a position and speed feedback signal. This signal isfed back to the axis control circuit 16. Thus, position and speedfeedback control is achieved.

It should be noted that FIG. 2 only illustrates one axis control circuit16, one servo amplifier 17, and one servo motor 50, but actually thesame numbers of axis control circuits 16, servo amplifiers 17, and servomotors 50 as the number of axes of the industrial machinery to becontrolled are prepared.

The input/output device 60 is a data input/output device including adisplay, hardware keys, and the like, which is typically a controlpanel. The input/output device 60 shows information received from theCPU 11 through the interface 181 on a display. The input/output device60 passes a command, data, or the like inputted from the hardware keysor the like to the CPU 11 through the interface 181.

The nodes 2 are one or more information processing devices located on anetwork that can be accessed from the numerical controller 1. Each node2 maintains various related files. The node 2 outputs a related file inresponse to a request received from the CPU 11 through the interface182. The related file is passed to the CPU 11 through the interface 182.

The NC program creator 3 is a device that creates a machine control NCprogram. An NC program created by the NC program creator 3 is passed tothe CPU 11 through the interface 183.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a functionalconfiguration of an information processing system 100 including thenumerical controller 1.

In FIG. 3, elements drawn by solid lines are processing sections, andelements drawn by dotted lines are data. In particular, elements drawnby bold lines are characteristic components of the present invention.The information processing system 100 typically includes the numericalcontroller 1, one or more nodes 2, and the NC program creator 3.

The NC program creator 3 includes an NC program generation section 301.The NC program generation section 301 generates and outputs an NCprogram specific to the present invention that contains a machinecontrol program typically written in G code or the like and networkconnection information.

One example of an NC program generated by the NC program generationsection 301 is illustrated in FIG. 4.

This NC program is a single file that contains a block containingnetwork connection information and a block containing a machine controlprogram. Each block is structured with characteristic tags.

In the example in FIG. 4, tags <nc_program> and </nc_program> are tagsfor defining a machine control program. A conventional general NCprogram, that is, a machine control program written in G code or thelike, is placed between these tags. It should be noted that thecontents, the generation method, and the like of the machine controlprogram are publicly known and therefore will not be described indetail.

The example in FIG. 4 includes, in addition to the above, various tagsfor defining the locations of related files on the network. The networkconnection information is configured using these tags. For example, tags<ref_file> and </ref_file> are tags for defining the location of areference file (file to be browsed) on the network. Tags <log_file> and</log_file> are tags for defining the location, on the network, of a logfile that is referenced and written to by the numerical controller 1.Tags <tool_database_file> and </tool_database_file> are tags fordefining the location of a tool information database file on thenetwork. A tag <ref= . . . > is placed between these tags describedabove, wherein the network address of the node at which the file islocated and the file path are written in the portion indicated by “ . .. ”.

The network connection information may include, in addition to theabove-described network address and file path, software (to be executedon the numerical controller 1) for executing the file and anyinformation such as software execution options, for example.

The above-described information structure is just an example, and thepresent invention is not limited to this. The NC program may have anyspecific structure as long as the NC program includes a machine controlprogram and network connection information. For example, the NC programmay be generated by writing network connection information directly intoa machine control program in a structured syntax. Alternatively, the NCprogram may have network connection information written as propertyinformation of a file of a machine control program. Alternatively, theNC program may include two or more files including a file containing amachine control program and a file containing network connectioninformation. In the case where the NC program includes two or morefiles, a file containing a machine control program and a file containingnetwork connection information can be associated with each other usinglinks, operation rules, or the like set inside or outside the files.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the numerical controller 1 further includes anNC program separation section 101, a network connection informationanalysis section 102, a network address designation section 103, anetwork connection section 104, a processing program designation section105, a processing program 106, a machine control program analysissection 107, and a machine control program execution section 108.

The NC program separation section 101 analyzes the NC program generatedby the NC program generation section 301, and separates the NC programinto two information elements, that is, the machine control program andthe network connection information. The NC program separation section101 passes the separated network connection information to the networkconnection information analysis section 102 and passes the separatedmachine control program to the machine control program analysis section107.

The network connection information analysis section 102 analyzes thenetwork connection information, and extracts the network addresses ofnodes at which related files are located, the file paths, software forexecuting the files, software execution options, and the like. Of these,information necessary for acquiring the related files are passed to thenetwork address designation section 103. Moreover, information necessaryfor executing the acquired related files is passed to the processingprogram designation section 105.

The network address designation section 103 generates informationnecessary for network connection for acquiring the related files basedon the network addresses and the file paths extracted by the networkconnection information analysis section 102.

The network connection section 104 negotiates with a connectingdestination node based on a predetermined communication protocol usingthe information generated by the network address designation section 103to establish a connection.

The processing program designation section 105 activates the softwareextracted by the network connection information analysis section 102, ifnecessary, with execution options designated. This activates theprocessing program 106. The processing program designation section 105passes the network addresses and the file paths of the related files tothe activated software.

The processing program 106 is an application program that is executed onthe numerical controller 1, and is a software capable of executing therelated files. For example, a tool management section 1061 that managestool information using a database file containing the tool information,a machining information management section 1062 that performs machininganalysis using a machining information file, and document browsingsoftware 1063 for browsing drawing files of CAD drawings and the likeand document files of machining instructions and the like are activatedas the processing program 106. The processing program 106 sends a fileacquisition request to the network addresses and the file paths receivedfrom the processing program designation section 105 in accordance with acommunication method established by the network connection section 104.Upon receiving a related file from a node, the processing program 106executes a process using the related file.

The number of nodes to which the processing program 106 is connected isnot limited. The processing program 106 can connect to each nodedesignated in the network connection information for each piece ofsoftware.

The machine control program analysis section 107 analyzes a machinecontrol program by a publicly known technique, and outputs machininginstructions. The machine control program execution section 108 controlsa drive axis of an industrial machinery in accordance with the machininginstructions outputted by the machine control program analysis section107 to execute machining.

The operation of the numerical controller 1 will be further describedwith reference to the flowchart in FIG. 5.

Step S1: The NC program separation section 101 analyzes an NC programand separates the NC program into a machine control program and networkconnection information. Hereinafter, the processing in step S2concerning the machine control program and the processing from step S5to step S7 concerning the network connection information areappropriately executed in parallel.

Step S2: The machine control program analysis section 107 analyzes themachine control program and outputs machining instructions.

Step S3: Preferably, the numerical controller 1 waits for executionsoftware (explained in step S7) to acquire a related file. Uponcompletion of the related file, the program proceeds to step S7.

Step S4: The machine control program execution section 108 controls thedrive axis of the industrial machinery in accordance with the machininginstructions to execute machining.

Step S5: The network connection information analysis section 102analyzes the network connection information, and extracts the networkaddress of the node at which the related file is located, the file path,software for executing the file, software execution options, and thelike.

Step S6: The network address designation section 103 generatesinformation necessary for network connection based on the extractednetwork address and file path. The network connection section 104negotiates with the connecting destination node to establish aconnection.

Step S7: The processing program designation section 105 activates thesoftware with execution options designated on the numerical controller1, and passes the network address and the file path of the related fileto the activated software. The processing program 106 connects to thenode at which the related file is located, acquires the related file,and starts processing using the related file.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating one modified example of the numericalcontroller 1. The above-described embodiment (FIG. 3) is an example inwhich the information processing system 100 includes one numericalcontroller 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Theinformation processing system 100 may include two or more numericalcontrollers 1 (numerical controller A and numerical controller B in FIG.6). Moreover, there is no upper limit to the number of nodes 2, and anynumber of nodes 2 can be added to the information processing system 100(FIELD SYSTEM in FIG. 6). In the above-described embodiment, each node 2manages a single kind of information. However, the present invention isnot limited to this. One node may manage two or more kinds of relatedfiles (FIELD SYSTEM in FIG. 6, which manages machine operationinformation and parameters). Moreover, there is no limitation to thekind of information that each node deals with. Each node can maintain,as a related file, any information that the numerical controller 1 candeal with in the software.

The above-described embodiment may be appropriately modified withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present invention. For example, theabove-described embodiment is an example in which the numericalcontroller 1 acquires related files and the related files are used onthe numerical controller 1. However, the present invention is notlimited to this. The numerical controller 1 may directly edit, on anode, the contents of a related file written in the network connectioninformation. Typically, this configuration is suitable for the casewhere an addition, an update, and the like of data are made to adatabase file and a log file.

Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, file execution software isactivated at a predetermined time. However, the present invention is notlimited to this. The activation time of file execution software may befreely controlled. For example, network connection information iswritten in the machine control program in the NC program. In this case,the numerical controller 1 executes the machine control program from thetop step by step and, when a portion where the network connectioninformation is written is reached, activates the file executionsoftware. Thus, the numerical controller 1 can execute processing, suchas calling a related file, outputting a log to an external node, andacquiring and displaying a machining instruction and CAD data, at afreely-selected time during machining.

Moreover, the above-described embodiment assumes that the networkconnection information includes the addresses of the nodes on thenetwork and that the related files are located on the network. However,the present invention is not limited to this. The related files may belocated inside the numerical controller 1. In this case, the networkconnection information does not necessarily need to include the networkaddresses of the nodes but only needs to include at least file paths.

Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, information that thenumerical controller 1, for example, references and updates based on thenetwork connection information is referred to as related files. However,such information does not necessarily need to be data in a file format.The present invention can be generally applied to information in anyformat.

The present embodiment has significant technical effects, such as thefollowing:

1) The numerical controller 1 can accurately, for example, reference andupdate related files (files of CAD data, a tool database, and the likeon which the creation of an NC program is based, a document file of amachining instruction, and the like) scattered on a network usingnetwork connection information written in an NC program in advancewithout taking much time. Accordingly, operator's working time, humanerrors, and the like can be reduced.

2) Since the numerical controller 1 can directly edit a file on a node,data relating to machining can be easily collected on the node side. Forexample, by writing, into the network connection information in the NCprogram, the location where log data is stored and the location wheremachining states are recorded, data relating to machining can be easilycollected without particularly requiring any connecting work and thelike on the numerical controller 1 side and the node side.

3) Even when an addition of a node or a change of the network address ofa node becomes necessary, these can be dealt with by changing the NCprogram. This eliminates the necessity to perform work such as changingindividual settings of the numerical controller 1.

4) Since connection to the network is automatically established, workingcosts required to connect to the node in prior art techniques aregreatly reduced. Accordingly, distributed management of various datarelating to the numerical controller 1 and machining becomes easy.

5) Since the NC program can make a request to activate any fileexecution software, the types of files and data to be dealt with are notlimited.

1. A numerical controller comprising: a machine control programexecution section for performing machining in accordance with a machinecontrol program; a network connection section for establishing aconnection to a connecting destination node written in networkconnection information; and a processing program designation section foractivating a processing program for accessing information relating tothe machining located at the connecting destination node, wherein themachine control program and the network connection information aretreated as a pair.
 2. The numerical controller according to claim 1,further comprising: an NC program separation section for analyzing an NCprogram containing the machine control program and the networkconnection information and for separating the NC program into themachine control program and the network connection information.
 3. Thenumerical controller according to claim 1, wherein the networkconnection information is described, as property information, in an NCprogram file in which the machine control program is described, andwherein the numerical controller further comprises an NC programseparation section for analyzing the NC program file and for separatingthe NC program file into the machine control program and the networkconnection information.